Page 55 of Confusing Cade
She studied me, her eyes searching mine for something I wasn’t sure I could name. I forced myself to soften, to let the sincerity I felt bleed through.
“It’s a gift,” I said, my voice quieter now, almost a plea. “Just accept it. And... let go a little bit.”
The words hung between us. This trip, this moment, was a gamble. She had to know that. This was a chance to see if we could be more than fleeting sparks, more than a story that ended before it began.
Bella took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as if she were steadying herself against a tide. Then, slowly, her hand reached across the console and found mine. Her fingers were warm, her touch light but deliberate, and in that simple gesture, the world seemed to contract until it was just the two of us.
“Thank you, Cade. I do appreciate this trip...and you,” she said. “I promise I’lllet go.”
Her hand stayed in mine, and I felt a rush of something that felt like raw and unguarded hope. This was new territory for me, this giving without expecting, this wanting to build something that lasted. With Bella, it felt possible, like the snow blanketing the peaks could cover the past, could carve out a space for us to start fresh. Every snowfall, every shared smile, felt like a vow whispered into the wind, a fragile but beautiful promise of what could be.
But as the road curved toward Park City, the mountains rising like sentinels on either side, a quiet doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. Could I make this last? Could I be the man she deserved, the one who didn’t only chase moments but built theminto something real? I didn’t have the answer, not yet. But with her hand in mine and the snow falling softly outside, I knew one thing for certain.
I was certainly going to try.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
BELLA
Accepting the trip, throwing what I could into my luggage, heading to the airport and flying halfway across the country with Cade was crazy. I barely had time to think, let alone send a text to Lilly, letting her know I’d be in Utah through the weekend.
But I was also having so much fun.
When was the last time I’d just let go? Gone on a vacation? Done whatever I wanted for a few days without worrying about how I’d pay upcoming bills? Sure, I’d been earning good money for the past few months. But I hadn’t felt free to enjoy it, as if I had to be hustling every second of the day.
It was like Cade gave me permission to just... have fun.
And now, here I stood in the private, closed off, VIP Alpine Outfitters dressing room in Park City, wearing black ski pants, a purple sweater, a black and gold jacket, a gold knit hat, and matching black boots. Cade lounged on the couch across from the full-length mirror. When I zipped up the jacket and turned around, he placed his phone on the sofa cushion.
“I like it. Do you?” he asked.
I stepped back on the platform and examined the waterproof pants and heavy coat. “It’s fantastic.”
“You look like a regular ski bunny.”
“I feel like one.”
I grasped the mass of tags hanging off the jacket sleeve. The whole outfit cost more than a thousand dollars, and it wasn’t the only thing in the “yes” pile. A hunter green mock turtleneck dress, suede car coat, leggings, and oversized Fair Isle sweater already hung on the wall-mounted bar next to the sofa.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked again.
“You can’t ski in your underwear.” Cade bit back a grin.
Staring right at him, I unzipped the coat. “Darn, I wish I could.”
